Have some dirt leftover from a landscaping project? If so, you should consider using it for other purposes. There are dozens of ways to use leftover dirt, some of which include the following.
#1) Fill Holes
It’s not uncommon for sinkholes to develop in a landscape. Normally, these holes are the result of the collapsing ground. When the surface soil becomes heavier than the bottom soil, it collapses and creates a sinkhole. Rather than leaving these sinkholes open, you can close them by filling them with extra landscaping dirt.
#2) Elevate Flowerbeds
You can also use extra dirt to created elevated or “raised” flowerbeds. Depending on the size of your flowerbed, you may only need a wheelbarrow’s worth of dirt to raise it several inches. As the height of your flowerbed increases, it creates a more prominent appearance that helps to define your home’s landscape.
#3) Create Berms
A lesser-known use for leftover dirt is the creation of berms. What is a berm exactly? A berm is a mound of dirt, soil, compost or other materials that’s used to conceal unwanted but necessary items in a landscape. If there’s a utility station in your landscape, for instance, you can create a berm with leftover dirt to conceal it. This won’t harm or otherwise affect the function of the utility station, but it conceals it so that other people can’t easily see it.
#4) Add Around Trees
Another way to use leftover dirt from a landscaping project is to add it around trees. Extra dirt will provide trees with additional nutrients, while also encouraging moisture retention. Furthermore, you can use dirt to create a base layer around your trees, topping it off with mulch. Dirt allows mulch to stick to the ground, preventing it from blowing or washing away in bad weather.
#5) Create Compost
Leftover dirt is the perfect ingredient for compost. If you have a compost bin in your yard, try mixing it with dirt. Compost needs both “greens” and “browns,” with dirt falling under the latter category of ingredients. When mixed with fruit and vegetable peelings, it creates a nutrient-rich food that will stimulate grass and plant growth, promoting a greener and healthier landscape.
These are just a few ways to use leftover dirt. You can also set it aside for use at a later date. Just remember to keep it covered so that it doesn’t wash away.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
I’m planning on getting some landscape rocks installed in my yard this summer, but I really wasn’t sure what I’d do with the extra dirt we’d be digging up to install them. It’s so good to know that putting it around trees can provide the trees with extra nutrients and help them retain moisture! That’s probably what I’ll end up doing once the rocks are put in.